Lock-out telephone system.



W. W. HILL. LOOK-OUT TELEPHONE SYSTEM.

APPLIOATIOH FILED MAY 10, 1908.

935,024. Patented Sept. 28, 1909.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

W. W. HILL- LOUK-OUT TELEPHONE SYSTEM.

APPLICATION nun my 18, 1008. .024, Patented Sept. 28, 1909.

6 SHEB'1'8BEBET 2.

WitR/fifiggg; 50! Inventor,

- mxzz M By jusAt-tormyg" nmnsw s mama co wenm-urmmums msumumx a. c.

W. W. HILL.

LOCK-OUT TELEPHONE SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 16, 1908.

935,024, Patented Sept 28, 1909.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Iklg. 5

bllliz Inventor:

Witnasea' mm M ,By JM QA ilorneya m: uw I mum. an, INOYJL "mannin wwwlmnn n a W. W. HILL.

LOOK-OUT TELEPHONE SYSTEM.

APPLIOATION rnnn m 1a, was.

Patented Sept. 28, 1909.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Iii-

Inveni'vr:

By brifiAl i/ornys" Witnesses W. W. HILL.

LOOK-OUT TELEPHONE SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED [AT 16, 1908. 935,024.

Patented Sept. 28, 1909.

SHIRTS-BEBE! 6.

W. W. HILL.

LOCK-OUT TELEPHONE SYSTEM.

APPLIOATION FILED ml 16, was.

Patented Sept 28, 1909. 8 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

m welt/Z01? By kwAfiormye:

Wine/@5 5 WILLIAM W. HILL, OF SUMTER, MINNESOTA.

LOOK-OUT TELEPHONE SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 28, 1909.

Application filed May 16, 1908. Serial No. 433,224.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, W'iLLiAM W. HILL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sumter, in the county of McLeod and State oi Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lock-Ont'lelephone Systems; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to party line telephone systems. such as generally used in rural districts. and the invention has for its object to provide improved means for locking out of listening and speaking connnunication with the transmission circuit or line all stations except the calling and the called stations.

The importance of the provision of lockout means such as indicated will be readily understood by all persons familiar with the use of party lines, and especially of rural lines where many phones are connected on the same line and where frequently persons at the stations on the line other than the calling and called stations will listen to the conversation going on over the line and will also often interrupt such conversation.

My invention provides a simple and cilieicnt device whereby a person at any one of the stations. by the manipulation of soealled selecting keys and cooperating devices, may set into action a so-called pulsator, and. through the latter and cooperating electric circuits, may set a. so-called circuit finder or closer at the called station in such position as to close the transmission circuit through the telephone at such called station, leaving all of the other stations cut. out of the transmission circuit.

The improved lock-out telephone system is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

ltel'erring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing the circuits of the improved system. Figs. 2 and 3 are fragmentary views in diagram of parts of the transmission line. Fig. +1: is a diagrammatic view of the so-called selecting circuit or line. Fig. 5 is a view chiefly in plan but partly in horizontal section, showing a case or box. containing practically all of the local mechanism of the party selecting or cut out system. Fig. 6 IS a side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 5, some parts being sectioned and some parts being broken away. Fig. 7 is a vertical section taken approximately on the line a. of Fig. 5, some parts being left in full, and some being broken away. Fig. 8 is a detail in section taken approxinu'itely on the line 011 a of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 a detail in section, taken on the line in" .1'" of Fig. 7. Fig. 10 is a view in elevation, looking at the front face of the case shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 11 is a detail in section taken on the line a a of Fig. 5. Fig. 12 is a section taken approximately on the line r a" of Fig. 5, some parts being broken a any. Fig. 13 is a section taken on the line ad" in of Fig. 10; and Fig. H: is a section taken on the line :r m of Fig. 5.

Directing attention first to Figs. 1. 2 and J the numeral 1 indicates the ordinary wires of the customary transmission line and the numeral 2 indicates, as entirctics, telephones ol standard construction located at dill crcnt stations on the transmission line. in Figs. 2 and ii the numeral 3 indicates the customary batteries, usually contained within the cases of the several telephones.

In acci'n'dauce with one oi the l' aturcs of this invention. the transmission line 1, at each station, is arranged to he closed through either one of two normally open branch circuits 1 or 1". In the wire I is interposed a pair of normally separated spring contacts -l-: and one oi" the wires l is connected to a contact ring 5, while the other wire 1 is connected to a iiXed contact (i.

In the pretcrred arrangement of the system, the contact ring 5 is secured to but insulated from a supporting plate T. which. as best shown in Fig. 13, is connected by short horizontal posts H to a frame 9 that holds a transparent cover 10 and is secured to one side of a case or box ll, in which latter. as already indicated, the local parts ol' the selcct ing and cut-out mechanism are arranged. The contact 6 is also shown as secured to but insulated from the supporting plate T.

Located concentric to the contact ring 5 and mounted in suitable bearings ati'ordcd 11. is a shaft 1?). which at its trout end is secured to but insulated from a contact arm .14; and which arm, on account of the turntion it performs. may be designated as a contact finder. This contact constantly engages with the contact ring I); l and, when properly positioned, will engage by the plate 7 and bv brackets 12 on the box finder ll the eontaet post (3 amt thereby elose the. transmission line through the wires 1.

There is only one lire eontaeli ti at eaeh station. but preferably tleatl or blintl eonltlt'ls n are eirelnnterentially spaeett on the outer t'aee ol' the plate T. equi-tlistant from the axis of the shalt l-l. ln faet. the saitl eontaets t3 amt t'r are preferably llltttlL (lt1 ptieates one of the other. but only one thereof being eonneetetl in the eireuit. amt in no two stations will the live eontaet (3 be loeateil at: the same point. In Fig. 11 one ol' the wires 1" is slit)\\1i as eonneetetl to the eontaet ring .3 by a biniting post Sr. ttlltl the other wire 1" is shown as eonneeteil to the ninth eontaet post. tlireetions being taken in respeet to the arrow marketl on l igs. ll) amt ll. Also as illustrated. there are eleren of these eontaet neeting ehnen stations or telephones. eaeh station having a eontaet t) eonneeteil or loeatett at one of the eleven tlil'lerent. positions. The importam'e of eonneeting the saicl eontaet t3 ol the se eral stations at. tlitlerent points will heieinafter t-learly appear.

Lot-anal at the front siile of the ease 11 amt llttllllllttl to state in an outer plate l5 amt an inner plate it both o't whieh are rightly seenretl to saitl ease. are elei'en out- \\'2tl(ll s|)I'ill L1 [)l'tHSOtl seleeting lteys. soalietl. Wltlt'll in number amt in relative post tions eorre poml to the LIQYCI) lire eontaets (S of the e|e\en other eonneetetl stations. Otherwise statetl. these seleeting heys ii are eireuml'erentially spat-ml aronml the :iXis of a shaft 1%. whit-h shaft is jonrnaletl in the bearing plate to amt in the inner sitte plate of a sort of a eloelt 't'ranie it) tlnt is rightly supportetl by the ease it. More partienlarly statetl. saiil seleeting keys 1T. like the eontaets titl". are spaeetl thirty tlegrees at art. anti at the top ol the series a spat-e is tell for a twelfth member in the form ot a loek bolt L tl. that is also inounteil in the plates to aml l l. Normally the lUt'h bolt 2U proieets lllWtll'tl. as shown in Fig. 5. amt engages a stop arm 21 that is -arrietl by the shat't 1h, amt thereby loeks the salt] shat't against rotation. see also Fig. 12.

lltltl elosely against the inner hearing plate it ZlIltl monntetl 'l'or slight oseillatory movement on the sha't't IR is a loel-t (list; 22 proritletl with slight peripherzl notehe 4 n in that normally atine one with eaeh ot' the seleeting keys IT. rlaiil loelc (lislt L is also i)l(l\'ltlitl with an elongatetl peripheral notch 21; that always elears the inner eml oi the itlth bolt :20. (see Fig. 12 The toelt tlislt 213 is further [)I'OYltlttl with projeeting tllll nietrieally opposite angular arms it aml 23. whieh. as shown. are embraced by retaining clips it; on the plate to so that the saitl loelt dish is hehl against lateral movement. The arm ll is eonneetetl. by a link ii. to one arm of a bell erank 2%, the other arm of whieh bell ("rank is pivotally connected to the loek bolt 20. as best shown in Figs. 5. T amt 12. At its elbow the bell erank 28 is pirotally eonneete l to a small braeltet 29 see Fig. T] on the upper portion ot the plate ltt.

laeh seleeting key 1? is provitletl with a peripheral groove 1? which. when the saitl key movett inwartl to its extreme position, alines with the eot'ipe ating noleh 23 of the loelt disk. for a purpose which will hereinafter appear. Normally. the inner enlls oi the saitl keys 17 are moved UlllWtHtl ot' the plane ol the loek tlisk "32, as shown in Fig. T.

Loeatetl elose to the stop arm 21 ot' the shatt l8 amt mounted to sliile on saitl shaft. is a tripping tlisk or plate Iltl. This tri iiping plate is spring-pressed outwartl. as shown, pins. wlneh proyules 1n the system tor eon-- by a eoilett spring 31 that reacts against the same and against an anehor washer on the shaft 18; tllltl it is heltl against rotation by a trip arm It seenreil thereto and arrangeil to sliile in the slot 33 ot' a braeltet I'll seenretl to the bottom oi the ease 11. all as best. shown in Figs. 5. ti amt T.

Normally the projeeting eml ol the trip arm 32 engages the projeeting entl of an arm 35 that is earrietl by a rot-h shat't Elli monntetl in suitable bearings 3T on the bottom of the ease 11. A torsional spring 38 tsee Figs. 5 amt 12) reaets against the arm E15 and the ailjaeent bairing 3T amt exerts a foree tending to roek the shaft. iit'i in a (lireetion to more the arm :35 tlUWlHYtll'tl. sueh movement being. of eonrsie. resistetl by the trip arm 32.

At its t orwartl entl, the roel; shat't ilt': is prorittetl with an npwarttly projeeting arm 232) that is eonneeteil. by a link ltl. to the arm 25 of the lt (l( tlislt 22. At its other entl saitl shat't Il is pltlYltltll with a projeeting arm 41. while at its intermediate portion it. earries a short arm l2 amt a. tappet or earn 13. the purposes of whit-h will presently appear.

The transmission line eontaets t aboye tle seribetl are shown as insulatetl lroni eaeh othe amt from a supporting l)tt1t'l tl' it on the bottom of the ease I]. by means ol whieh braeltets they are normally heltl separated. as shown in Figs. 5 aml ii. slight oseillatory movement of the shaft. 3t) will. howerer. eanse the tappet 13 to press the eon taets 4 into engagement aml thus elose the transmission eirenit at that. point.

.\xially alinetl with the shaft 1%. anti inonntetl in the l'raine it) is a. short shalt l3. whieh shaft is separate from antl not eonneetetl to rotate with the said shaft 18. This shaft to. as shown. is proyitleil with a (lonble tappet tt. with a liXttl pinion 4T. anti with a spur gear i which latter is eonneetetl to saitl shaft it amt pinion 4-7 by a l riet'ional eonpling ill. The shaft 45 is (ll'iVtIi from a motor spring 50, as shown,

l tlt l through the following train of gears: gear 51 that is directly subject to the motor spring 50 meshes with a small pinion that is connected to rotate with a spur gear 53. which, in turn, meshes with the gear 48 of said shaft -I-Ti. The pinion -'-l-T meshes with a gear 5% carried by a shaft 55 provided with a pinion 5t? which. in turn, meshes with a gear 57 carried by the shaft 18. y the mnnections just (.lescrilictl, the shaft 43 will be given twelve complete rotations to one rotation of the shaft ]H: or, otherwise stated, the said shaft l5 will be given one rotation while the shaft 18 and its stop arm 21 are being given one-t welfth of a. rotation. This latter statement should be remember-(Kl.

The numeral 58 indicates a centrifugal governor which, as shown, is driven from the gear 53. The master wheel 53 above described, is, as shown, connected to a winding shaft 59 by means of a ratchet wheel (ill and spring-pressed dog (51, best shown in Fig. 8. This winding shaft 5!). as shown, projects at the front of the case 11 and is provided with an angular end 59 to which a key may be applied for the purpose of winding up the motor sprin The said motor spring, at its inner end, is secured to the shaft 59 and at its outer end is suitably anchored to the frame 19. The train of gears described and their shafts are all suitably journalcd on the said frame 19.

Normally, one end or the other of the double tappet d6 engages one and holds in contact a pair of spring contacts 62, which contacts are shown as supported by an extension 19 of the frame 19, best shown in Figs. 5 and 6. These contacts 62, at the several stations, normally close a so-called selecting circuit. shown as made of grounded wires (33, batteries (M and magnets (35, of which magnets, as well as the said pairs of contacts (32, there is one for each station. This arrangement is illustrated. in Fig. 4, wherein, however, only three stations are shown, the manner in which the system is further carried out being obvious.

One of the magnets is suitably supported within each case or lJOX 11 and, as shown, an arn'iature (it; is arranged for cooperation with each thereof. Said armature, as shown, is intermediately secured (see Fig. 1st) to a short shaft it? that is pivotally supported by the two bearing brackets l2 before described. Between the brackets '12. the shaft 13 to which, as already described, the so-alled contact finder 14 is secured, is provided with a ratchet wheel 68 that is normally held against backward rotation by a springpressed retaining dog as. shown as mounted in a bearing 70 supported by a bar 71, which, in turn, is rigidly secured to the brackets 12. At its upper end, the armature (36 is provided with a spring-pressed driving dog 72 that cooperates with the ratchet wheel 68.

A screw to applied to the bar 71 regulates the extreme oscillation of the armature, or rather, the armature lever 66. Normally, the magnets (35 are all energized so that the lower end of the armature lever 66 is drawn toward the left with respect to Fig. 14. A .pring T l, which, as shown, surrounds the shaft (3?, reacts against the fixed bar T1 and against the upper portion of the armature lever on, and exerts a force which, when the magnet is deenergized, causes the driving pawl T2 to move back into engagement with the next tooth to the rear of the ratchet wheel 68. The movement of the ratchet wheel 68 and, hence, of the shaft 13, takes place when the armature lever (36 is moved by the action of the energized magnet.

At its extreme rear end, the shaft 13 is provided with a. radially projecting lock rclcasing arm 75 that normally engages the beveled end of a spring pressed lock lever T6 and holds the said lever against the tension of its spring in the position shown in Fig. 5. This lock lever it] is intermediately pivoted. to the laterally turned upper end portion of a bearing pedestal 77. The free end of the lock lever 76 is thus normally held out of the path of movement of the arm 42 of the shaft 36; but when it is released its spring will throw the same immediately above the said arm slit (see Fig. 6).

For cooperation with the arm &1 which is carried by the shaft 36 of each station instrument, there is a vertically movable rod 78 mounted in suitable guides 79 and provided with a spring-pressed dog 80. The normal positions of the rods 78 and dog SU are shown by full lines in Fig. 6. At their lower ends, these rods 78 (see diagram view Fig. ll are connected to the receiver hooks :3 of the respective telephone instruments.

Operation: in Fig. 10 the selecting keys ii are numbered. consecnthcly. in the (lirccii-on of the movement of the hands of a. clock. and each one of these k ys occupies a position that corresponds to the position of the contact ii of one of the distant stations. -tccording to this illustration. the instrlnncnt at station yo. I) is shown at the extreme l ft in l igs. l. J. 3 and l. and we will assume that a pcl'son at this station No. it wishes to call up station No. 2. To accomplish thi the per on at station -Io. ll pushes the kcy ii" numbered :5 on his instrument inward as far as it will go. When this key 1? is thus pushed in 'ard to its limit. it engages lhe tripping disk 30. forcing the same against. the spring 31 far enough to cause the trip arm it! to release the arm is) of the rock shaft hen the said shaft an is thus released. it is given a slight oscillatory movement by the spring 3?. and this movement of said shaft accomplishes two things. to \\'lir lll'fil it causes the tappet 4: to more the contact i into engagement, as shown at the left in iti.

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Fig. 3: alnl sot-ontlt through tho arln I39 aznl link ltl, tho look tlisk 22 is gin-n a slight inoroniont whioh sorvos to on gao'o tho poz'i hont portion of saitl look ilisk with tho ohannol 17 ot' tho nishott-in solooting koy :2. This slight osoillation ot' tho look llisk 2; thorol'oro soiwos to look tho pnshoil-in solooting koy in its oxtroino innorniost position; antl. t'urthornioro. sorvos to look all of tho othoi' solooting koys ot tho oalling instrn' inont in thoir normal positions. -\nothor Jory important aoiion rosnlts from tho ahoro notott inoroniont ol tho look tlisk. towit.- through tho link 2T antl hollorank 2h. tho look holt it) is llitiYtll torwartl or into a povn to ioloaso tho slop arin Lil ot tho shat't \Yhon tho arm 21 is rotoasoil, tho inotor pring. aoting; through tho train of goats. rotato tho shat'ts l5 tllltl 18' until tho stop arni 2t ongagos with ancl is sto i aal lo tho inwarltly projoototl olnl of tho inwardly nossotl otooting ko r 1T nuinhoro l L. alnl whioh as just aliovo (losorihotl. was ltlth'ttl in it sot positi n lv tho look tli k :32. In tho illu tration just ahot'o gixon. tho arm 21 ainl shal t s wore giron t\\"o-t\\'olt'tlis ot a tlilt|])lttt rotation. ainl. honoo, tho shalt 45 was gi\on two ooniploto rotations.

'lwo oonililoto rotations of tho shaft 45 oaiisos tho \louhlo tappot it? to tour tinios hroak ttlltl again oloso tho solootin oit'riiit oz, 1: tlll'ttt aoiion upon tho rontaot It: at tho oallin; station. alt as host llltllt'tttttl at tho lot't hanel in Fig. l. Tho t'onr olootrioal ini- ;inisos thus protlnootl in tho solooting' oirouit will sininltanooustv aotltato tho llltt il'llttfi H5 at ail ot' tho stations. :illtl tho t'our Yihratory niox'onionts ltl'tltltltttl in oaoh :H'tilttttil't l(\'[t' at; will impart tour intorniittont lnoroinonts to oaoh ratohot whool as. shat't lit. ainl oonlaot tinlloi' It. It ill ho roinonihorocl that two ot suoh stops oi nioiolnont arm with tho ai'rangoniont tlosorihotl. l'ttlttllttl to impart a onot\\oll th rotation to tho rosnootivo oontaot litnlors. it is now thought to havo hoon tlliiilt oloar that tho l'our olootrioal iin inlsos sont out root tho solooting oir uit has hail tho otloot ot' sottillgj tho oontaot tiinlors it ol' all f tho station in position Yo. :2 Only at station ,\'o. 2. howoror. (loos tho oontaot lllttltl' ooino into onmlgoniont with a fiXltl oontaot t whioh is t'llttltlt'tttl in tho trans mi sion tino. as shonn at tho right in big. it. lionoo. at all othor tations. tho oontaot lilltlot's 1t ttltttlill inoooratiro ancl (lo not oloso any transmission lino or othor oironit oonnootion. Fig. I; shows tho oomlition ot tho transmission lino al tor station No. i has sot tho lino tor ooniniunioation with station No. 2 o\'ol' tho transmission lino. \l'hon thoso tno stations aro thus oonnoototl. tho rall signal. pn-torahl h tho uso of tho ortlinary tolophono holl oonnootions, ina ho sont t'roni station it to station 2. hut no othor station in tho system will hoar this call. Furtherinoro. poisons may oonnnnnioato in tho usual way ovor tho transmission lino hotwoon stations 9 :ttltl 52. hot no party at any othor station oan got oithor into spoaking' or listoning oonnnnnioation with this olosoil talking oironit.

It is of oourso. nntlorstootl that tho station that will ho solootoll alnl oonnootoil into spoaking oonnnnnioation with tho oalling station will tlopontl ontirol) upon which of tho sovoral koys IT at tho saitl oalling' station is prossotl inwai'il tilHl sot in tho inannor ill)t)\'( ilosorihotl.

Tho initial inovoinont of tho shalt 1i oansos tho arnis To to rot *aso tho look lover Tit, so that tho saitl look lorors at all stations oxoo t tho oallingg station will ho lll(]\'ttl ninlor tho arm 43 ot tho ooiiporating rook shatts Ilti antl thorohy look tho saitl rook shafts Ito, look holts 2t). ainl intot'niotliato parts at all of tho instrnlnonts oxoopt that at the o: lling station in thoir nornial positions. This rosults in sottino tho instrunionts at all stations oxoopt tho oalling station so that no otloot whatovor will ho pro tlllt'ttl h v ro sing llt\\2tl'(l ono of tho solooting koys thoroot. 'Ehis positii'oly tot-ks? all tho stations oxoopl tho oallocl station mat the oalling station out of tho transmission lino.

Tho osoillatory n1o\'o|nont ol tho shaft 313 \\'l)i('ll was impartotl in tho instrunlont at tho oallino' station niot'os tho arin it of saitl shalti from tho position lIHllltttttt hy full linos into tho position ilalioatotl hy tlottotl linos in Fig. t3. amt whon tho roooiioi' at this oalling instrnniont is takon from its supporting hook L. tho saill hool' ltltiVts npwartl in tho usual way. hut in this arrangoniont also sorvos to mow n iwartl tho oonnootoil roll 79 so that tho [log so will ho sprung into a position ahovo tho ttttl of tho saitl arln l-l. 'ihoin whon tho roooit'or at tho oallin g' station is roplaoo l on its hook 2. tho saiil hook and Hill 78 will ho ctr-awn tlon'nnarth thorohy oansiny; tho clog Htk aoting on tho arni ll. to rostoro to normal positions tho shat't 3t antl parts oarrioll thorol with tho tnrthor rosnlt that all ol' tho parts will ho rostorotl to normal positions :liltl tho lino again rostororl to normal oolniition.

It will, ol' oonrso. ho inalorstooll that any tlosirotl nninhor ot' stations may ho oonnoototl in tho sanao look-out srstonn providing tho propor nnnihor o't' solooting koys :Httl oooporating oonnootions are ])'l'()\'itlttl, it will also ho ninlorstoml that tho invontion is not lllllltltl to tho iartioular tlotails of oonstru lion shown in tho lrawings ainl ahmo snooitioilly th-soriheal. hat. on tho oontranv. is oapahlo of largo rango o'l' naalitioation. Pho inannor o'l' opt-ration of tho sow; llotl station or party solooting nioohanisin is siinplo and oa ilahlo of hoing \'or easily nialorstot'al hy all poisons capahlo oi using tolophonos.

Moro spooitioall statotl, whon the roooivor lltl is removed from the hook 2*, the rod 78 moves upward and carries the dog 80 to the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. (i, and when the receiver is again placed upon the said hook, the dog 80 is moved downward and acting on the arm 41 moves the same from its position shown in dotted lines in Fig. ti back to its normal position, shown in full lines, against the tension of the spring 38. Also the rocking movement imparted to the rock shat't tit; by this return movement of the arm ll operating through the arm 3!) and link it), oscillates the lock disk 22, thereby causing the latter to release the pressed in key 17. hen this pressed in or set key is released, the spring 31 moves the plate 30 outward and the latter then carries the trip arm back under the free end of the arm 35, thereby locking the rock shaft 3(3 and parts connected thereto in their normal positions.

\Vhat I claim is:

.1. In a lock-out telephone system, the combination with a transmission line and telephones at the several stations, of a selecting circuit connecting the said stations, a selecting device at each station, comprising a rotating member and properly spaced keys arranged to be set at will for controlling the extent of rotation thereof, means for sending electrical impulses over the said selecting circuit, comprising a rotating contact clo er controlled by the rotary member ol said selecting device and a cooperating stationary contact, and ditl'erentially acting devices for closing the transmission line, located at the ditlerent stations, each comprising a lixcd contact and a rotating contact which latter is magnetically actuated by the impulses sent over said selecting circuit, substantially as described.

2. In a loclcont telephone system, the combination with a transmission line and telephones at the several stations, of a selecting circuit connecting the several stations, means at the several stations t'or connecting the respective telephones to the transmission line, each comprising a tixed contact and a movable contact tinder, the contact finder at the several stations requiring ditterent movements to close the circuit, magnets in said selecting circuit, devices subject to said magnets for imparting step by step movements to said contact finders, pulsating devices at the several stations operative to intermittently open and close said selecting circuit, aml a multiplicity of selecting keys and cooperating devices operative to control the said pulsating device according to the selection of the called station, substantiz'illy as described.

3. In a lock-out telephone system, circuit closers at the several stations for connecting the telephones to the tran mission line, each comprising a fixed contact and a movable contact tinder, the contact finders at the several stations normally set in ditiercnt positions in respect to their cooperating contacts, in combination with tlilfei'eiitially acting selecting devices at the several stations each comprising a mo 'able member and a plurality of properly spaced keys arranged to be set at will for controlling the movement thereot', amt means for sending electrical impulses from any one station to the other stations, comprising a stationary contact, an intermittently acting mov able contact controlled by the movable member of the corresponding selecting device, and magnets for controlling the move ments of the contact finders at the several stations, substantially as described.

4. In a lock-out telephone system, the combination with telephones at the several stations, of circuit closers for connecting the several phones to the transmission line, each comprising a fixed contact and a movable contact. finder, the contact finders at the several stations norn'ially being set in different positions in respect to their coiipcn ating contacts, pawl and ratchet devices for iimnirting step by step movements to said contact finders, magnets for operating said pawl and ratchet devices, a selecting circuit including said magnets, a pulsating device controlling the selecting circuit at each station, and a group of selecting keys at each station for controlling the action of the cooperating pulsators, substantially as described.

5. lit a lock-out telephone system, the com iiination with telephones at the several stations, of circuit closers for connecting the several phones to the transmission line, each comprising a fixed contact and a i'novable contact timler, the contact finders at the several stations normally being set in ditl'erent positionsin respect to their cooperating contacts, pawl and ratchet devices for imparting step by step movements to said contact linders, magnets for operating said pawl and ratchet devices, a selecting circuit: including said magnets, a pulsating device in the form of a rotary tappet controlling the selecting circuit at each station, driving means tend ing to rotate said ta ppet, a lock normally restraining said driving means, a tripping plate tor releasing said lock, and a multiplicity of selecting keys operative on said tripping plate and serving to determine the extent of rotation of said tappet, substantially as described.

(3. In a lock-out telephone system, the con'ibination with telephoi'les at the several stations, of circuit closers for connecting the several phones to the transmission line, 'ach comprising a fixed, contact and a movable contact finder, the contact finders at the several stations normally being set in dill'erent positions in respect to their cooperating con- Cit tacts. pawl and ratchet devices for imparting step by step movements to said contact finders. magnets for operatin said pawl and ratchet devices. a selecting circuit including said magnets. a pulsating device controlling the setecting circuit at. each station and comprising normally engaged contacts and a tappet for action thereon, driving means tending to rotate said tappet, a stop arm connected to rotate with said tappet. a lock normally holding said stop arm against rotation. a tripping plate with connections arranged to release said lock, a multiplicity of selecting keys operative on said tripping plate. the actuated member thereof serving as a stop to said stop arm and serving to determine the number of pulsations sent over the selecting circuit. substantially as described.

T. in a lock-out telephone system. the.

i the said contacts. and a multiplicity of secombination with a transmission line and telephones at the several stations. of circuit closers tor connecting the telephones at the several stations to said transmission line under dillcrent manipulations or actions, means for operating said circuit closers comprising an electrical pulsating device. driving means tending to operate said pulsating device. a lock normally restraining said driving means. a tripping plate with connections for releasing said lock. and a multiplicity of selecting lieys or stops operative on said tripping plate and serving to differentially limit the action of id pulsating device. substantially as described.

8. In a lock out telephone system, the combination with a transmission circuit, a selecting circuit and circuit closers arranged to connect the respective phones to the transmission line under different manipulations or actions. magiiets at the several stations located in the selecting circuit. magnet-operated pa \\'l and ratchet devices for operating said circuit closers. normally separated contacts in the transmission line at each station. a current pulsator in the selecting circuit of each station. driving means tending to move said pulsator, a lock normally holding said driving means out of action. a tripping plate with connections for releasing said lock and l'or closing the transmission circuit through lecting keys operative on said tripping plate and a ti'ording' a series of dill'erential stops for limiting the action of said pnlsator. substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I allix my signature in pres n e of two witnesses.

"ILLIAltI \V. HILL. \l"'itr1esses l. El. lhLXLMHREN. B. L. RonnoK. 

